Toy animal



Nov. 19, 1929. A. E. WOOLNOUGH TOY AfIIMAL Filed Feb. 1, 1929 Inuenion' AZ bGL'Z'EMQZRQUgh, W W W ATTORN 5Y5 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 UNITED STATES ALBERT E. WOOLNOUGH, OF ST. ALBANS, NEW YORK TOY ANIMAL Application filed February My said invention relates more particularly to the ears of toy animals of the stuffed type and aims to provide a construction in which the ears will be maintained in proper position during the life of the toy, and will be capable of vibrating during movements of the toy but when deflected will always return to their original or normal position.

The invention further aims to provide a construction capable of being easily and economically manufactured.

l/Vith these objects in view, the invention includes the novel construction hereinafter described and defined by the appended claims.

For purposes of illustration I have selected a rabbits head as embodying the invention, but it will be understood that this is by way of illustration only and that the invention is applicable to any toy animal having ears standing erect or substantially so.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the head of the toy.

Fig. 2 is a sectional View, and

Fig. 3 is a detail.

Referring by reference characters to this drawing, the numeral 1 designates the head of the toy, which comprises a covering of suitable material of proper shape and appearance provided with a stutfing of suitable material such as eXcelsior. 3 designates the ears which are likewise formed of suitable material to simulate more or less closely the ears of'the animal which the toy represents, such ears comprising preferably an outside covering 3 corresponding to the head covering, and an inside covering 3' of different color or texture.

These ear coverings are formed by stitching the edges of the coverings together to form substantially bag-shaped enclosures, which taper to the point of attachment to the head, Where they are relatively narrow.

For holding the ears in proper shape and effecting their connection with the head in such a manner as to cause them to normally stand erect or at the proper angle to the head and always return to initial position, while permitting deflection in any direction, I provide them with frames or loops of wire 4 1, 1929. Serial No. 336,694.

formed by bending steel or like resilient metal wire into loop form with the ends crossing as indicated at 4?, the portions of the ends projecting beyond the crossing point diverging as indicated.

An important feature of the invention is the making of these loops of Wire which is of rectangular cross section. This form of wire I have found by experience keeps the ear continuously in fan shape while the crossing of the wire at the base permits deflection of the ear in any direction, but insures its return to normal position. It also enables a simple and efiicient connection of the ears to the head, as all that is necessary is to enter the ends of the wire in the stutfing so that the crossed point is embedded in the stufiing and the diverging portions engage the stufling beyond the crossing point and brace the ear which is secured in place by stitching the ear coverings to the head covering.

Preferably the ear coverings adjacent the crossed point are held in place and stiffened by the application of glue.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A stuffed toy animal head having approximately fan-shaped ears secured thereto comprising wire frames provided with suitable coverings, each of said frames comprising a resilient wire bent to loop shape with the ends of the wire crossed, and diverging beyond the crossing point, said crossed and diverging portions being embedded in the stuffing.

2. A stuffed toy animal head according to claim 1, in which said wire is of flattened form in cross section and is bent along the wider face to form the loop in a plane transverse to the plane of the flattened face.

In testimony whereof, I afliX my signature.

ALBERT E. WOOLNOUGI-I. 

